4. Predator After Pretty Prey

Darren:

I walked out of the building and went into the deeper part of the market, my ears picking up the sounds of human heartbeats.

Stopping by the usual stall, I saw Robert, the owner of the place, he was inside conversing with a young lady "A box of red pills" I said and Robert stood up immediately after he heard my voice.

"Good day Mr. Darren" he greeted and I acknowledged him with a nod of my head. Leaning my hands on the table as I waited for him to bring the usual thing I bought from here. Scanning through the place, my gaze landed on the lady who sat down, fixing me a seductive gaze. Her suggestive actions elicited a chuckle from deep within me, knowing full well that it wouldn't take me a mere breath to snap her delicate neck and drain out her blood but I would rather not waste my time.

Robert arrived back a few minutes later with a small bag, I collected it from him and dropped the money on the table "The slayers dropped by the market two days ago" he said in a whisper and my brows furrowed.

"What did they come for?" I questioned, the slayers were one of the stark enemies vampires have ever had, they were stubborn and persistent in wiping out the whole vampires, but as easy as it may sound that was never going to be possible.

"Not sure," Robert said with a smile that faltered under the intensity of my glare, prompting him to clear his throat nervously before continuing.

"But I've heard whispers among some traders that the vampire slayers are planning on attacking the towns around before they head towards the city" Robert explained, earning a deep frown from me.

I don't know what the slayers' plans were but I'm sure it wasn't a good one, it was never good, to begin with.

"Make sure to gather more information before my next visit," I said and dropped a few more dollars before taking the bag of pills and turning to leave.

It was at this moment that Cassius arrived, my right-hand man and most trusted one, we've known each other for ages now.

"I left her in the car, sir," he said and I nodded briefly.

She was the same person I had seen last week when Cassius and I had gone to Vrematon, a town, on a pursuit to look out for the slitters who had been capturing humans around recently, but we didn't find what we were looking for so we left. We went back to the town last night and I saw her again running down the road, under the rain, soaked and wet, out in the cold around 11 PM.

Made me wonder if she wasn't scared, humans were scared, pathetic, and vulnerable. I detest them cause what exactly are they scared of? they were the weakest of all creatures and they were also ignorant of their surrounding. The only significant use for them is their blood, which vampires craved to survive.

I don't believe in coincidences, but as if that wasn't enough, I saw her again today. Far away from Vrematon about to be auctioned off.

A lot of vampires were in here, under the disguise of being humans, the black market was a place where different things were sold, and a lot of people come down here from the city to get something. All creatures come down to this place often under the disguise of being normal human beings, you can't completely tell who is who, vampires can tell their kind and humans apart, but creatures like the witches and slitters couldn't be differentiated much from humans.

I was just entering the market with Cassius earlier when my ear caught the trembling and fast thumping sound of someone's heartbeat, looking up at the auction center, I saw her there, under the eyes of people with different intentions. A lot of people were ready to buy her as a slave, some as a fuck toy while some wanted to take her home and suck out her blood.

The first time I saw her, she was with a young lad with whom she was smiling so fondly, her light brown hair cascaded down her shoulders while some covered part of her face, she used her slender fingers to move the strands of hair to the back, her figure was so delicate and petite, her white teeth came in view as she laughed with the little boy, she wore a pink floral long dress which made her look extremely adorable.

I was mesmerized, a very beautiful maiden. Completely moved by the sight, I still remember every little detail vividly.

When I saw her last night also, under the rain, with her clothes clinging to her body, I would have loved to stop and see more of her but I had important matters which I came to the town for. So I told Cassius to move on.

Cassius collected the bag from my hand and we made our way out of the bustling market.

"One slitter was caught yesterday" I heard Cassius say "She was caught in Cripton town and was taken to the labhouse" Cassius reported, Cripton town was just beside Vrematon and the slitters were rampant in these two towns.

"Let's stop by the labhouse when we return to the city," I said to Cassius. Slitters were coming out of hiding recently, they had plans and aims that the Council of Elders were yet to know about.

We walked out of the market and approached the car, my gaze lowered a little to the car when I couldn't hear the human's heartbeat from there. Cassius ran to where the car was as he seemed to have noticed something also, he looked back at me "She isn't here"

I scanned my eyes around the surrounding looking for my little human but she wasn't there, she had gone far already. People drew out their slaves from the market like animals but that wasn't my business, my newly bought pet has eloped.

"Wait for me," I said to Cassius before I made my way to the forest, hoping that she hasn't been devoured yet by another creature, I'll slaughter whoever does that. The mere thought sent a surge of anger coursing through my veins. I had acquired her for my exclusive possession and amusement, not for anyone else's pleasure. I alone would savor the twisted pleasure of tormenting her, inch by agonizing inch.

Sauntering into the forest with a poised stride, my eyes flickered deep red as my ears picked up the sound of her heartbeat; a fragile melody.

A smile, both enigmatic and sinister, curved upon my lips, for vampires are adept at the art of pursuit. A thrill of the hunt surged through me, an adrenaline rush, unlike no other. The predator was on the prowl and the prey would soon find herself ensnared in my seductive grasp.

"Games of hide and seek don't always end well, little pet" I whispered "For in this game, there is no escape from the predator's embrace."

Reaching the heart of the forest, her scent wafted into my nostrils, a tantalizing fragrance that guided my pursuit "Pretty prey" I murmured, my voice a velvety whisper that danced on the breeze "You may hide, but I shall find you. And when I do, the game will be over, and you shall be mine."